Background

Alexander Herrmann was born on February 10, 1844, in Paris, France, the son of parents whose names, according to himself, were Anna Meyer and Samuel Herrmann. The mother was from Hamburg; the father was a Berlin Jew, a physician, and magician of much ability. They had sixteen children, the younger of whom were born in Paris. The oldest son, Carl or Compars, was twenty-nine years old and a magician of established reputation when Alexander, the youngest child, was born.

Education

Alexander attended college in Vienna.

Career

Compars was greatly attached to Alexander and aided him in running away when he was ten years old, taking him as his assistant to St. Petersburg. After touring places like Germany, Austria, Italy, and Portugal, they emigrated to America. Their American début at the New York Academy of Music, September 16, 1861, was very successful. In 1862 Alexander left his brother to set up his own show and did not see him until 1867, when they met in Vienna. They formed a temporary partnership and in 1869 Compars announced his brother as his successor.

Alexander, traveling alone, covered much of the civilized world, including South America. He was so popular in London that an engagement at Egyptian Hall ran for a thousand nights. In 1876 he took out papers of citizenship in the United States. He and his brother had made a friendly agreement to keep out of one another’s way, for each had great drawing power.

In his later years Herrmann published a number of books on the art of magic including Herrmann’s Hand-Book of Parlor Magic, Herrmann's Black Art (1898), Herrmann’s Conjuring for Amateurs (1901), and Herrmann’s Book of Magic (1902).

In his time magicians ran their own shows, booked themselves, carried all of their theatrical equipment, including curtains, and usually did their own advertising. It was Herrmann’s custom to play practical jokes in public places and, when a crowd had assembled, to announce himself and his performances.

Achievements

• Alexander Herrmann was rated as one of the three leading American magicians. His repertoire changed little from year to year but his showmanship was good and his manner of presentation so skilful that his audiences came again and again to see him perform.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Bozzetto

    (Die packende Jagd nach Michelangelos geheimnisumwobenen B...)

  • Herrmann's Book of Magic: Black Art Fully Exposed

    (Alexander Herrmann (1844–1896) was a leading stage magici...)

  • book

  • HERRMAN'S TRICKS WITH CARDS. (Cover title).

Personality

Alexander Herrmann wore Mephistophelian mustache and a top hat. He was a man with his personal charm and exceedingly clever sleight-of-hand.

Connections

In 1875 Herrmann married Adelaide Scarsez, a dancer, who became his assistant.

Father:

Samuel Herrmann

Mother:

Anna (Meyer) Herrmann

Spouse:

Adelaide (Scarsez) Herrmann